time...perfect timing for money!

[Fabrice]

hi, what would the appropriate length be for a classic (fire, nails,
blockhead, etc) busking and pass the hat show be? I know this is relative but hey, no cost asking!


thank you
fabrice

[Doctor Eric]

As long as you can hold 'em

[DrAmazo]

Ten to 15 minutes. Strive for 3 or 4 sets per hour.

Any fewer (longer shows) will lessen your income (more hats = more $)...any more (shorter shows) will reduce the individual contributions.

Your show should be long enough to give them value for their tip, but short enough that you can do the same for LOTS of participants.

I'd start with the above numbers, then fine tune for your style and the local customs. Are there others performing in the area? How long do they run?

You will find a "point of diminishing returns" where going longer will not increase the hat.

You are interested in maximizing your income, right? If you're just busking for fun (isn't that an oxymoron?) then forget the hat and go til you run out of material...wait 10 mins...and go again!

[Doctor Eric]

I'll have to respectfully disagree with DrAmazo (great name), which just goes to show how up in the air this issue is...
Actually, I only disagree a little bit. Maximizing your hats and shows is good stuff to think about, and those methods work, but there is a trade off because it's possible to start thinking more about the dolla-dolla-bill than what you want to achieve autistically. Personally, I do two stunts and my show is 45min-1hour long at one pitch, and 30mins flat on another. I like to be able to entertainingly hold a crowd, and I think it makes them feel like it was more of a show than a trick. Also, I mention this because Fabrice sounds like he wants to do some somewhat physical stunts, as I do, that's one of the reasons why I milk it. Juggling a plethora of objects IS physical (although I'm guessing DrAmazo is a magician), putting your face in a pile of broken bottles and having a 350 lb man stand on your face (hi mom!) is not something I can do more than 3 times a day. Beds of Nails and other such devices are similar, you can only perform these acts a limited number of times in a day/week. (Actually, as often as I do it is a bit maniacal) So Fabrice, if you are going to exert alot of effort and abuse yourself a bit physically, you will probably want to do longer shows, and try to make them into one steady crowd-build.

Inevitably,

[Todd]

I also have to repectfully dissagree with the good Dr. While he may be right in thinking that longer sets get you into deminishing returns, I find that when you foucus on the cash/hats/bottom-line, you begin to neglect the fact that you are there to entertain the audience. I also do a half an hour set with three tricks: Fire eating razor eating and bed of nails. I find that the audience feels good when you give them something for thier money. In the hat line I make reference to the fact that they have spent a half an hour of thier time with me. Those eho have been there for the whole show appreciate the fact that I gave them something for thier time, and they tend to pony up the dough, and those who only caught the end of the set, or half way through, they tend to come back to see another set and then they will give. BUT, my main foucus is not to drive my time towards "How many sets can I get in". Also foucusing on your work as a performer and doing longer sets gets you used to crafting a longer show, which makes it easy to get booking for the higher paying convention and corp. gigs, where you realy make money.

[Doctor Eric]

Actually, Todd, that is almost exactly what I was trying to say, in my own way, thank you for putting well enough that another human can understand it. tongue.gif

[Todd]

Thanks Eric. Actually your great post gave me the impulse to write a follow-up. I'm actually just a busy body who can't resist putting my nose into everything.

Todd